Pyrotechnic candle with interchangeable means



Jan. 13, 1970 MARCUS ETAL PYROTECHNIC CANDLE WITH INTERCHANGEABLE MEANS Filed 001:. 6, 1967 Fig.1

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I |o- I \NVENTORS RWIN MARCUS I IRVlNG L. lNTlSH BY l.

Q 6 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,489,086 PYROTECHNIC CANDLE WITH INTERCHANGEABLE MEANS Irwin Marcus, Pompton Plains, and Irving L. Kintish, Rockaway, N.J., assignors to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Filed Oct. 6, 1967, Ser. No. 674,069 Int. Cl. C06d N10 US. Cl. 102--37.8 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pyrotechnic candle having shaped means for varying the light and/or smoke output, releasably secured to the top uppermost portion of the pyrotechnic candle.

The invention described herein may be manufactured, used, or licensed by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

The invention relates to a pyrotechnic candle and more particularly to a pyrotechnic candle having a variable light or smoke output.

In the past pyrotechnic candle devices for producing smoke and/or light utilized the cigarette type of burning. Since pyrotechnic mixtures burn at a steady rate, for a given composition of matter, it was necessary to change the composition of said candle to change the smoke or light output. For example, to change the output of a light or smoke producing flare having the composition of magnesium, aluminum, or magnesium aluminum alloy, it was necessary to change the percent of each component and/or to change the pressure of compaction in the mixture, and/or to change the particle size distribution of the mixture.

The invention describes a means of varying the output of said pyrotechnic candle without the necessity of changing the composition, pressure or particle size.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a pyrotechnic candle having one end shaped to give a specific light or smoke output.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pyrotechnic candle having an interchangeable shaped head portion for varying the light or smoke output.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a pyrotechnic candle whose light or smoke output can be varied in the field.

The above objects as well as others together with the benefits and advantages of the invention will be apparent upon reference to the detailed description set forth below, particularly when taken in conjunction with the drawings annexed hereto in which:

FIG. 1 shows a side view of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of a third embodiment of the invention with portions broken away.

Referring now to FIG. 1 there is shown a pyrotechnic candle 10, having a flat bottom portion, as shown by reference character 12 and having an interchangeable segment 14 which can be any desired shape necessary to achieve a desired light or smoke output, secured to a top fiat portion of said candle 10.

Since the candle is composed of a mass of given diameter, a change in its burning area is possible by means of shaping the top end of the candle.

For example, a 3" diameter candle has a normal burning surface of 7.0686 square inches. If the same candle were initiated by a 30/60/90 triangular segment such that the hypotenuse is initiated, then the burning surface would be represented by an ellipse with a major axis of five inches and a minor axis of three: inches and would have an area of 11.7810 square inches. A segment of this type is illustrated in FIG. 1 and represented by reference character 14. A hemispherical shape would yield an area of 14.1372 square inches. The burning time of the individual candle would be shortened but the output will nearly be doubled. If the burning time has to be kept constant and the output increased then one candle can be coupled to another by mechanical or chemical means. Experiments have confirmed the fact that there is little tendency for the candle to return to its original and formerly natural burning surface providing that buming does take place in cigarette fashion.

These changes in burning characteristics, and therefore light or smoke output, may be either built into the candle; e.g., one end flat and the other end having a configuration, or with a series of attachable interchangeable segments which may be secured to said candle in the field. The means of attaching the segment to the candle would be by mechanical devices such as those illustrated in the drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates the use of a contact adhesive 16 which secures segment 14 to the top of the candle 10'. In FIG. 2, configuration 14 is secured to the top of candle 10 by a friction fit utilizing the tapered portion 18 which comes in contact with a connection sleeve 20 integral with said candle 10.

In FIG. 3 the configuration 14" is secured to candle 10 by the use of a bayonet locking device which comprises a portion 18' having slots 22 therein (only one shown) which mate with pins 24 on a connecting sleeve 20'. Threaded devices or ball socket lock type devices (both not shown) could also be utilized.

In the foregoing manner, it should be readily apparent that rates of light or smoke output for a given pyrotechnic candle may be varied in accordance with the geometric shape used to initiate the candle. The life of the candle will vary with the configuration and surface area employed and may be lengthened by coupling of another basic candle thereto.

We claim: 1. A pyrotechnic candle for producing smoke and light including:

a mass of pyrotechnic material, interchangeable means to control the burning surface area of said candle, said means consisting of pyrotechnic material of the same composition and density as that making up said mass of pyrotechnic material,

means for securing said interchangeable means in juxtaposition to said mass.

2. A candle of the type described in claim 1 wherein said mass has a flat top portion.

3. A candle of the type described in claim 2 wherein said means for securing said interchangeable means to said mass includes a connecting sleeve secured to said flat top portion of said mass.

4. A candle of the type described in claim 1 wherein said interchangeable means includes a 30/ 60/90 triangular shaped segment.

5. A candle of the type described in claim 1 wherein said interchangeable means includes a hemispherically shaped segment.

6. A candle of the type described in claim 3 wherein said interchangeable means is attached. to said connecting sleeve by a contact adhesive.

7. A candle of the type described in claim 3 wherein said interchangeable means has an extended tapered portion, said tapered portion forming a friction fit with said connecting sleeve.

3 8. A candle of the type described in claim 3 wherein said interchangeable means has an extended portion including a plurality of slots therein, and said connecting sleeve has a plurality of mating pins thereon which are so constructed and arranged so as to lock said segment 5 to said candle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 79,96 3 7/ 1868 Detwiller 1023 7.8

Detwiller 10237.8

Jackson 102--37.8

Jackson 10237.8 ODonnell 102l02 Dilchert 102101 BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner J. FOX, Assistant Examiner 

